Q. My husband and I have poor credit, but we really would like to purchase a home. My credit score is about 580 and my husband's is 460. After reading the requirements for an FHA loan, it looked like I might qualify. So I called a mortgage company and, while doing the application, it came up that I was married. I told them that I was the only one applying for the loan because my husband is unemployed. I was told that in Texas, it is required that my husband be on the loan application. Is this true?

A. There is no Texas law that requires married couples to apply jointly for a mortgage, according to Bill Poe, an investigator with the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending. You can apply as an individual.

But Poe notes that there's also no law preventing a mortgage lender from requiring both spouses' information on an application. It's standard procedure for lenders to base their decision on the information about the spouse with the lowest credit score.

After all, Poe points out, if your husband is unemployed, your salary likely is footing the bill for his liabilities as well as any you would list singly on a loan application.

It's possible that you could squeak into an FHA loan with a 3% down payment using your score alone. But is this really the best time for you to be buying a house?

Both of you have credit scores in the subprime range, which indicates you've had serious financial problems in the not-too-distant past. That, coupled with the fact that your husband is not working in a deepening recession, presents a serious problem.

We think you'd be better off focusing on building your household income, saving for a down payment and repairing your tarnished credit.

To get started, check out our 7 smart moves to improve your credit score.

You might also want to enlist a credit counselor to help you prioritize debts and create a realistic household budget.

Another tip: If you're renting or seeking rental housing, be sure your landlord reports your timely payments to a credit bureau. That will help you build a more solid history to present to future lenders.